Former Charger DB Nick Hixson re-signs, returns to Saints camp

Former Hillsdale College defensive back Nick Hixson was re-signed by the New Orleans Saints over the weekend.

Ryan Czachorski, Sports Editor

NEW ORLEANS — He’s back.
Former Hillsdale College defensive back Nick Hixson was re-signed by the New Orleans Saints over the weekend.
Hixson was an undrafted free agent following April’s draft, and signed a three-year deal with the Saints in mid-May.
He spent a month with the team, before falling victim to the numbers game and was released in June.
The Remus native said he would remain in football shape in case an opportunity presented itself after teams broke training camp.
“It was kind of discouraging at the time,” Hixson said Monday. “I kept looking out, waiting. I was helping out the coach at my high school.”
Things looked like they would go Hixson’s way last week, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers called and asked him and another player to come work out at their camp.
But at the last minute, the Bucs backed out, leaving Hixson back where he started in June.
“It was hard to take at first, but the Saints called the next day,” he said.
With injuries to many of the Saints’ cornerbacks in camp, New Orleans called Hixson, brought him down to New Orleans and signed him on the spot.
The Saints waived LB Nate Bussey, G Andrew Tiller and CB A.J. Davis. They picked up Hixson, G Paul Fenaroli and TE Daniel Graham.
Despite having almost two full months away from the team’s complexes, playbook, coaching staff and another amenities, Hixson is pleased with how things are going so far.
“I was pretty happy with where I stood when I came back,” he said. “I had time to freshen up before I got here and time to sit down with one of the coaches when I got down here.”
New Orleans has played two preseason games so far, a 17-10 win over Arizona on Aug. 5 and a 7-6 loss to New England on Aug. 9.
Hixson hit the field for his first official practice Monday morning, and said the preseason practices are very different than the workouts he went through in May and June.
“I’m still the low man on the totem pole, but I think putting pads on and getting in the game will help me more than the spring did,” he said.
The Saints take on the Jaguars at 8 p.m. Friday, and finish their preseason slate with a home game against Houston on Aug. 25 and a road matchup with Tennessee on Aug. 30.
As for his playing time against Jacksonville, he said players in similar positions to him saw a lot of playing time against Arizona and New Orleans.
He wouldn’t make any guesses as to how much time he’ll see, however.
“I can’t say either way, but I would expect to see at least a few plays on special teams,” he said. “Guys in my position before have been playing quite a bit, so I’ll be ready to play.”
As the preseason progresses, playing time for the rookies and undrafted free agents will diminish.
But New Orleans brought him back quickly, and as a young player, they have a wealth of options regarding Hixson even if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster.
“Whether it be a practice squad kind of deal, it’ll still be good,” he said, “I feel like I’m doing well.”
Former Hillsdale WR Andre Holmes was signed to Dallas’ practice squad after last year’s training camp.
Heading into this season, the Dallas Morning News has speculated Holmes could be Dallas’ third wideout.